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Silent No More Anita Durette - Personal Testimony - Anita was a keynote speaker in 2008/09 March for Life in Halifax. |
| Abortion Testimony - Anita Durette
I am a woman who has been harmed by abortion. I have suffered emotionally and mentally for over 35 years. I had two abortions in Alberta hospitals in 1972 and 1973. The first one was done under anesthesia at 12 weeks pregnancy. The second one was by saline solution at 20 weeks of pregnancy. I was 18 and 19 years of age respectively. I was in excellent mental and physical health before my first abortion. I rationalized that abortion must be okay as it was recommended by a doctor, approved by a board of three medical doctors, done in the hospital, paid for by Medicare (government funded health insurance) other than a small fee for the second abortion. Abortion was perfectly legal and okay according to the laws in Canada. After having children later in my life, I realized why I had experienced so much guilt, shame and emotional pain, grief, anger, sadness, depression and other emotions. I had learned to shut down my emotions and coped with the pain of legal abortion through substance abuse (drugs and alcohol). I sought medical help and counseling numerous times to keep functioning and not once did any doctor tell me that some of my emotional difficulties or mental difficulties or relationship problems could have arisen from unresolved emotions caused by aborting my children and the loss of two more children through subsequent miscarriages. I have recently begun a healing journey and have begun to share my
experience and how abortion affected my life. I am still overwhelmed by
the emotions that resurface when I share the pain caused by aborting my
babies. By sharing my pain I hope to help others to understand how deeply
abortion affects women for the rest I also want to let other women know that there is help from the pain of abortion and to encourage them to speak out and expose the truth about abortion and the damage it causes. At the very least women should be properly informed of the risks involved when undergoing an abortion and the truth of fetal development. Recently I went with my daughter to an appointment to have her wisdom teeth removed and she had to watch a 10-15 minute video advising her of all the possible risks before having the procedure. The teenager or young woman considering an abortion should also realize the development of their baby and all possible risks to themselves and what abortion does to their baby. How can a women make the right choice when she doesn't even know the truth and the reality of abortion? Canada Silent No More |